Dear Editor:
I am writing today to express my disappointment in the recent absolute lack of response from our elected member of Parliament, Andrew Saxton.
Mr. Saxton was elected by the members of our community to be our voice in Ottawa and to represent our community. I expect that this means all the members of our community, not just those that can be found on a society page or with a cheque book at election time.
I am the parent of two young Canadians. They have been raised as true Canadians and they are proud of their heritage, their culture and their community. At various stages in their young adult life, they have questioned decisions that have an effect on their lives. As a family we can discuss them, but if you want to know more or you want to be a catalyst for change with something you believe in, where do you go?
As a Canadian I know the answer is clear, you have an elected official who acts as your member of Parliament. This person is elected by the majority to act as a liaison between this community and Ottawa. We should be able to ask a question and receive a response. The official can choose to provide context or advocate for it, but key to this is at minimum, acknowledge it. You do not need to agree with what is being said, but the role as a representative includes communication with your constituents.
I have two children ages 21 and 19. Each of them have had questions about political matters and have written to their member of Parliament on at least five occasions. Neither have ever received a response of any kind. Both of my children have travelled to Ottawa with a wonderful program for young people that included meeting your MP in the Houses of Parliament. Neither were met by our representative and each was forced to have their pictures taken with a "borrowed MP."
More recently, my daughter wrote to her MP and others to express her dismay in the cancellation of funding for the Katimavik program in the last budget cuts. Her letter was respectful and well crafted. She has received numerous responses from across the country including from Minister of Finance James Flaherty, and Minister of Heritage James Moore. The glaring omission from this list of responses was from our own representative, Mr. Saxton.
I was concerned about this lack of a response because it speaks to the core of who we are as Canadians. If you cannot communicate your feelings to your elected official, what have we come to? I wrote my own letter imploring Mr. Saxton to please respond to the concerns that my daughter had expressed. My own communication has been ignored and it has been well over three weeks.
Mr. Saxton, you do not have to agree with what was being expressed, but you do owe your constituents a response. Your disregard for communicating with the people you represent has lost me as a supporter. You have done a great disservice to your role in Canadian politics and I welcome the representative who is standing in the wings ready to take your place. It can't be soon enough if you ask me.
Alison Andresen North Vancouver
